Method of preparing metal blanks



Dec. 26, 1961 e. A. LYON METHOD OF PREPARING METAL BLANKS 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Nov. 23, 1955 Egz/ 7 1 5 27 [UP 650x05 A: 5527' Z M Dec. 26,1961 G. A. LYON 3,

METHOD OF PREPARING METAL BLANKS Filed Nov. 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2[27 FE 1*2 Z51" 62-01? a: n2 BERT 1 ram Dec. 26, 1961 5, A N 3,014,272

METHOD OF PREPARING METAL BLANKS Filed NOV 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5.572 217 [57? G'rofiat 4185,47 Ara v 3,014,272 mil-10D 6F PREPG METALBLANKS George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Lyon Incorporated,Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 23, 1955, Ser. No.548,597 Ciaims. (6i. 29-526.6)

The present invention relates to improvements in the preparation ofmetal blanks and more particularly con cerns the preparation of ingotpieces for cupping and drawing into shell form.

in the manufacture of steel shells, and more especially such shells ofsubstantial size, it is desirable as an economy measure to utilizematerial derived directly from cast ingots. However this presents theproblem of removing the scale and other impurities, flutes, cracks,pits, and the like, present on the surfaces, and more particularly thelongitudinal surfaces of the ingot pieces. It is highly desirable tohave the ingot pieces as clean and presenting at the surfaces thereof asnearly pure steel without flaws as practicable.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention toprovide an improved method of cleaning up steel ingot pieces intendedfor eventual drawing fabrication.

Another object of the invention is to provide steel blanks derived fromingot pieces in a clean, substantially flawless condition so that steelshells drawn therefrom will be substantially uniform and free fromundesirable imperfections.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forpreparing ingot pieces for drawing into steel shells.

According to the general features of the present invention, there isprovided a method of cleaning tapered ingot pieces which are of smalleroutside diameter at one end relative to the opposite end, wherein axialcompression is applied to each piece to a limited extent just sufiicientfor bulging the longitudinal wall thereof laterally accompanied by acomponent of additional lateral pressure thrust from the centeroutwardly at the smaller diameter end of the piece by pressing of ashallow substantially conical depression into the smaller diameter endof the piece, such depression having a substantial diameter relative tothe diameter of the ingot piece, so as to displace material from thecenter of the smaller diameter end to compensate for the reduction indiameter of the piece toward that end and thus effect substantiallyuniform bulging of the originally smaller diameter longitudinal wallportion outwardly substantially to match the bulging diameter of theoriginally larger diameter end wall portion of the piece.

According to other general features of the invention, the bulgedlongitudinal wall material is trimmed ofi to substantially apredetermined wall perimeter to expose substantially flawless cleanmaterial of the piece about the entire longitudinal wall perimeter toaflord a clean periphery on the piece.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a more or less schematic vertical sectional elevational Viewthrough apparatus for scalping an ingot piece;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon the line IIlI of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 1but showing the apparatus in the rela tionship of the components in onephase of operation thereof on the ingot piece;

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FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIGURES l and 3 butshowing the relationship of the components of the apparatus following ablank shaping and scalping operation;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of an ingot withsubstantially straight tapering longitudinal walls, showing a piecepartially severed for cleaning according to the present method and inthe apparatus of FIGURES 1 through 4;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of a billet that may have been derived byreshaping a cleaned ingot piece;

FIGURE 7 is a more or less schematic view showing how either the cleanedingot piece of FIGURE 4 or the billet of FIGURE 6 is adapted to beflattened into thin disk form preparatory to cupping the same anddrawing into shell form; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevational view showing acupping die structure.

As cast at the mill steel ingots are generally several feet long and afoot or so in diameter. They may be generally straight sided or they maybe fluted. In either event, they are tapered from one end toward theother.

For the purpose of preparing piecesof the ingots for drawing, the ingotsare divided into pieces which are calculated as to length in relation tothe taper to afford equal mass in each of the pieces or sections of theingot. At the opposite ends of the pieces so separated from the ingotclean surfaces will be provided incident to the separation. It will beunderstood, of course, that all piping will be trimmed off, as well asthe end face where there is no piping. Hence, it is necessary in orderto provide a piece that is satisfactory for drawing to trim ofI or scalpthe longitudinal periphery of each piece.

According to the present invention, scalping or cleaning up of thelongitudinal surface of a billet piece 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which may befluted as shown, is accomplished by compressing the piece axially tobulge the fluted perimeter free from the taper and to substantiallycrack and dislodge scale therefrom. Then the ingot piece 10 is smoothlyand uniformly trimmed off.

Herein compressing and bulging and trimming of the ingot piece 10 areaccomplished in a combination press and scalping die structure includinga columnar supporting or anvil member 11 of cylindrical form, anopposing complementary pressure applying, ingot piece bulging punchmember 12, and a scalping member 13. The anvil member 11 is supportedupon a base structure 14 which may be a press bed. The upper end of theanvil member 11 is adapted to support the ingot piece 10 thereon and ispreferably of a diameter to which the ingot piece is to be trimmed afterit is bulged.

A cooperative relationship is provided whereby the bulging punch 12 isreciprocably guided by and within the scalping member 13. To this endthe punch 12 is preferably cylindrical and the member 13 is preferablytubular and is provided with a longitudinal bore 15 within which thepunch is slidable. By preference the diameter of the bore 15 is aboutthe same as the diameter of the at least upper end portion of the anvilmember 11 and equal to the diameter to which the ingot piece is to betrimmed.

About the mouth ofv the trimming die bore 15 is a shearing edge 17 ofgenerally chisel point in cross-section but circular in shape with agenerally frusto-conical surface 18 sloping upwardly and outwardlytherefrom.

For receiving and stripping material trimmed off by the trim die member13, a ring member 19 is provided about the anvil cylinder 11 andconnected to the trimming die member 13 by rigid longitudinallyextending connecting arms 20 of which there may be a pair atdiametrically opposite sides. Between the arms 20, as well as betweenthe ring 19 and the shearing end 17 of the member 13, ample access spaceto the compression space between the punch and anvil is afforded Thering member 19 may also serve as a guide for assuring registration ofthe punch and die members.

In operation, the ingot piece It is placed upon the top of the anvilmember 11 as shown in FIGURE 1. Then the punch member 12 is motivated toapply compressive force against the ingot piece toward the anvil member131. This causes a shallow-taper, generally frusto-conical nose 21 onthe pressure or thrust end of the punch 12 to be pressed centrally intothe opposing surface of the ingot piece to thereby cause greater lateraldisplacement of the material in the adjacent end portion of the ingotpiece 10 to occur than in the opposite end portion, so as to compensatefor taper of the longitudinal surface of the ingot piece which isdisposed between the compression members with the smaller end of thetaper directed toward the punch nose 21. The compressive force isapplied until sufficient of the longitudinal surface of the ingot piece10 has been bulged laterally into overhanging relation to the peripheryof the anvil member 11, and beyond the diameter of the shearing edge 17as shown in dash outline in FIGURE 1 and in full line in FIGURE 3. Atthe same time a central boss 22 of material at the opposite end face ofthe ingot piece 10, which may in part comprise a remainder of aconnecting neck at which the piece was severed from the ingot, ispressed into a centering recess 23 in the supporting face of the anvilmember 11. Thereby the ingot piece 10 is firmly centered against anypossibility of shifting or skewing incident to pressure against thesides thereof as the shearing edge 17 is operated to scalp thelongitudinal perimeter of the piece.

As thus bulged and firmly held between the anvil 11 and the punch 12,scalping of the longitudinal perimeter of the ingot piece isaccomplished by driving of the trimming member 13 longitudinallyrelative to the punch and anvil and the slightly compressed andlaterally bulged piece 10 held therebetween to scalp oil the more orless irregular longitudinal perimeter substantially as shown in dashoutline in FIGURE 3. As the trimming or scalping proceeds, the trimmedand cleaned longitudinal surface is received within the bore 15, and thechip C curls down under the tapered edge 18 until it is severed from thework piece and is deposited about the anvil 11 to which it may cling.

Following the trimming action, the trimming member 13 and the punch 12are backed off successively from the trimmed ingot piece 10, the punch12 serving as a stripper or hold-down in engagement with the trimmedingot piece until the trimming member 13 has been backed off free fromthe ingot piece. The trimmed ingot piece 10 is then lifted from theanvil 11. If necessary the trimming member 13 may then be backed oilfurther until the chip ring C has been stripped free from the anvil 11or at least lifted clear of the anvil to facilitate removal of the chip.

At completion of the trimming or scalping operation, as shown in FIGURE4, the now cleaned ingot piece 16 is removed and may, if it is to bestored for any length of time, be surface treated or coated to avoidoxidation or corrosion.

On the other hand, if it is desired to compact and reorient the grain ofthe clean piece it), it may be heated and forged into a polygonal blocksuch as a square block 25 as shown in FIGURE 6.

Instead of being fluted as shown in FIGURE 1, an ingot piece 16' (FIG.5) may be derived from a straight sided tapered ingot I by cutting aseparation 24 to the connecting neck 22, complete separation of thepiece 10' is then effected by cracking the neck 22' as by driving awedge into the severance cut or slot 24.

Preparation of the ingot pieces or billets is, of course, preliminary totransforming the shape thereof into a flattened blank B (FIGS. 7 and 8).By subjecting the cleaned piece to axial pressure to compress the sameuniformly it is laterally spread or displaced and axially reduced inthickness until the desired flattened blank thickness is attained. Suchflattening is preferably accom plished while the metal piece is at agood Working heat such as 2000 F. to 2200 F.

Then, preferably while the disk is still hot it is placed in suitabletrimming and cupping mechanism such as shown in FIGURE 8. This includesa combination trim ming die and cupping die ring member 27 with which iscooperatively reciprocally related a trimming shear ring 2-8. Throughthis arrangement the blank B centered upon the cupping and shearing ringdie 27 has the marginal portion thereof trimmed as indicated by thedotted circular line T in FIGURE 7. Then, while the trimmed blank B isheld centered on the ring die member 27 following the trimming, acupping punch 29 thrusts axi ally thereagainst to cup the blank asindicated in dash and dot dash lines in FIGURE 8. Following the cuppingthe blank is stripped free from the cupping punch 29 by strippers 30.The cupped blank B is ready to be drawn into elongated shell form.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a method of cleaning tapered ingot pieces which are of smalleroutside diameter at one end relative to the opposite end, applying axialcompression to each piece to a limited extent just suflicient forbulging the longitudinal walls thereof laterally accompanied by acomponent of additional lateral pressure thrust from the centeroutwardly at the smaller diameter end of the piece so as to displacematerial from said center of the smaller diameter end to compensate forthe reduction in diameter of the piece toward that end and thus effectsubstantially uniform bulging of the originally smaller diam eterlongitudinal Wall portion outwardly substantially to match the bulgingdiameter of the originally larger diameter end wall portion, and thentrimming oil the bulged longitudinal wall material to substantially apredetermined wall perimeter to expose substantially flawless cleanmaterial of the pieces about the entire longitudinal wall perimeter toafford a clean periphery on the pieces, said additional lateral pressurethrust component being effected by pressing of a shallow substantiallyconical depression into the smaller diameter end of the piece in eachinstance, the depression having a substantial diameter relative to thediameter of the ingot piece.

2. In a method of reshaping the longitudinal wall of a tapered ingotpiece preparatory to trimming the longitudinal wall wherein one end ofthe piece is of an originally smaller diameter than the opposite end,placing the ingot piece with its larger end on an anvil member having adiameter substantially the same as the diameter of the larger end of thepiece, driving a shallow-taper generally frusto-conical punch nosehaving a substantial diameter relative to the diameter of the ingotcentrally into the smaller diameter end of the piece and therebypressing a shallow complementary frusto-conical depres-- sion into saidsmaller diameter end and thus displacing: material of the piece from thesmaller diameter end portion thereof downwardly and laterally andthereby bulg ing the longitudinal perimeter of the piece into substantially uniform shape and eliminating the taper thereof- 3. In a methodof cleaning the longitudinal wall of a tapered ingot piece wherein oneend of the piece is of an originally smaller diameter than the oppositeend, placing the ingot piece with its larger end on an anvil memberhaving a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the largerend of the piece, driving a shallowtaper generally frusto-conical punchnose having a sub stantial diameter relative to the diameter of theingot centrally into the smaller diameter end of the piece and therebypressing a shallow complementary frusto-conical depression into saidsmaller diameter end and thus displacing material of the piece from thesmaller diameter end portion thereof downwardly and laterally andthereby bulging the longitudinal perimeter of the piece intosubstantially uniform shape and eliminating the taper thereof, and whileholding the bulged piece on said anvil by said punch pressing into saiddepression, trimming off the bulged perimeter of the piece to exposeclean material on the perimeter of the piece.

4. In a method of cleaning the longitudinal wall of a tapered ingotpiece wherein one end of the piece is of an originally smaller diameterthan the opposite end, placing the ingot piece with its larger end on ananvil member having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter ofthe larger end of the piece, driving a shallowtaper generallyfrusto-conical punch nose having a substantial diameter relative to thediameter of the ingot centrally into the smaller diameter end of thepiece and thereby pressing a shallow complementary frusto-conicaldepression into said smaller diameter end and thus displacing materialof the piece from the smaller diameter end portion thereof downwardlyand laterally and thereby bulging the longitudinal perimeter of thepiece into sub stantially uniform shape and eliminating the taperthereof, as an incident to pressing said depression, displacing materialfrom the larger diameter end of the piece into a recess in thesupporting face of the anvil member, and then while the piece is firmlyheld between the anvil member and the punch and maintained againstlateral shifting by the nose of the punch in said recess and thedisplaced material in the recess in the face of the anvil membertrimming the longitudinal perimeter of the piece to expose cleanmaterial at the perimeter.

5. In a method of cleaning the longitudinal wall of a tapered ingotpiece wherein one end of the piece is of an originally smaller diameterthan the opposite end, placing the ingot piece with its larger end on ananvil member having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter ofthe larger end of the piece, driving a shallowtaper generallyfrusto-conical punch nose having a substantial diameter relative to thediameter of the ingot centrally into the smaller diameter end of thepiece and thereby pressing a shallow complementary frusto-conicaldepression into said smaller diameter end and thus displacing materialof the piece from the smaller diameter end thereof downwardly andlaterally and thereby bulging the longitudinal perimeter of the pieceinto substantially uniform shape and eliminating the taper thereof, andtrimming oil the bulged perimeter of the piece to expose clean materialon the perimeter of the piece.

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